Famous PEOPLE Players is a

black light theatre Black light theatre (in Czech ''černé divadlo'') or simply black theatre, is a theatrical performance style characterized by the use of black box theatre augmented by black light illusion. This form of theatre originated from Asia and can be f ...

company. It is based in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

and tours worldwide. It is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

that is known as Canada's Goodwill Ambassadors to the world. They are famous for bringing inclusion and integration for people with disabilities. Those individuals, also known as ''Players'', share duties in dining room management, arts administration, and theatrical and visual arts performances. Since inception, the company has paid homage to the works of famous people within its own theatrical context, hence the name ''Famous PEOPLE'' Players.

History

Inspired by her vision of social inclusion, Diane Dupuy of

Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. Hamilton has a 2021 Canadian census, population of 569,353 (2021), and its Census Metropolitan Area, census metropolitan area, which encompasses ...

received an Opportunity For Youth (OFY) grant to start FPP. This program was created by the late P.M. Pierre Elliot Trudeau to provide meaningful work experiences for Canadian youth in the early 1970s. On June 1st 1974, Famous PEOPLE Players (FPP) was founded. At inception, the company consisted of Dupuy, an assistant, eleven performers, and Dupuy's mother Mary Gioberti Thornton; Thornton designed and built the costumes and props. The company's original piece was ''Aruba Liberace'', in which a life-size character of

Liberace Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987) was an American pianist, singer and actor. He was born in Wisconsin to parents of Italian and Polish Americans, Polish origin and enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, ...

plays the piano. It is still the company's signature performance. Liberace attended a showing of ''Aruba Liberace'', and was so impressed he invited FPP to perform with him in

Las Vegas Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

. The company debuted in Las Vegas at

Las Vegas Hilton Hotel The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino is a hotel, casino, and timeshare resort in Winchester, Nevada. Located near the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip, it is owned by Westgate Resorts. It opened in 1969 as the International Hotel, and was ...

in October 1975; over the subsequent ten years, the company performed with Liberace both in Las Vegas and internationally. As a result of the increasing popularity of Famous PEOPLE Players, the company was featured as regulars on

CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV, or simply CBC) is a Television in Canada, Canadian English-language terrestrial television, broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcasting, p ...

's 1976–1977 variety series, ''

The Wolfman Jack Show ''The Wolfman Jack Show'' was a Canadian variety television series which aired on CBC Television from 1976 to 1977, and syndicated to stations in the US. Premise This Vancouver-based series was a co-production of the CBC and host Wolfman Jack's ...

''; the network also later produced and aired ''Carnival of the Animals'' hosted by Canadian Actor

Gordon Pinsent Gordon Edward Pinsent (July 12, 1930 – February 25, 2023) was a Canadian actor, writer, director, and singer. He was known for his roles in numerous productions, including ''Away from Her'', ''The Rowdyman'', ''John and the Missus'', ''A Gift ...

. In 1980, FPP was featured with the Rockettes at the re-opening of Radio City Music Hall in New York, where the ''Sorcerer Apprentice'' premiered. In 1982, Famous PEOPLE Players was invited to perform in the

People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. The company's first Broadway Show, ''A Little Like Magic'', opened at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City and ran for 49 performances in 1986.Playbill Vault: A Little Like Magic
accessed April 17, 2014 They returned to New York in 1994 for a 4-week run, under the sponsorship of Phil Collins and actor Paul Newman, where they performed the show ''A Little More Magic'' for inner city kids to dream BIG! In 2001, Famous PEOPLE Players were invited to

Kobe, Japan Kobe ( ; , ), officially , is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. With a population of around 1.5 million, Kobe is Japan's List of Japanese cities by population, seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Port of Toky ...

to raise money for children who were orphaned in result of a

Great Hanshin earthquake The Great Hanshin Earthquake (, ) occurred on January 17, 1995, at 05:46:53 JST in the southern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, including the region of Hanshin. It measured 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum intensity of 7 o ...

. They are expected to return in 2026, with an invitation by a delegation from Kobe for the 25th commemoration of the

Dine & Dream Theatre

In 1994, the company opened the Dine & Dream Theatre;

Paul Newman Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, race car driver, philanthropist, and activist. He was the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Paul Newman, numerous awards ...

funded the restaurant's development by donating a portion of the sale of

Newman's Own Newman's Own is an American food company headquartered in Westport, Connecticut. Founded in 1982 by actor Paul Newman and author A. E. Hotchner, the company donates all of its after-tax profits to charity through Newman's Own Foundation, a pri ...

salad dressing products and

Phil Collins Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and later became the lead singer of the rock band Genesis (band), Genesis and had a successful solo career, ac ...

funded the theatre's

sound system Sound system may refer to: Technology media * Sound reinforcement system, a system for amplifying audio for an audience * High fidelity, a sound system intended for accurate reproduction of music in the home * Public address system, an institution ...

. In 2009, facing the demolition of its 25-year location for condo development, the company relocated to Etobicoke. It reopened its first show on October 23, 2009. The Dine & Dream Theatre is located at the company's Toronto west-end headquarters. Guests first arrive to the restaurant for lunch/dinner, where they are served by the ''Players'' — who also perform in the show productions. After the meal, guests are led to the Phil Collins Theatre, where the show production is performed. The theatre is named after

, who became a source of inspiration for the''Players'' when he viewed a performance interpretation of his music. It is currently the only theatre in Canada exclusively devoted to live animation under blacklight, showcasing life-size characters that glow and float in the dark.

The Stars of Tomorrow

As the company evolved over the years, the Dine & Dream Theatre has grown to expand its services towards education as well. Approved by the Ontario Ministry of Education, the Stars of Tomorrow is FPP's holistic education program that works in close partnership with Boards of Education and secondary school administrators. Under this program, high school students are given an alternative pathway to education — where they undergo co-op placements to train in the company's various departments in exchange for high school credits. This has led to multiple successful partnerships with various school Boards, such as Michael Power - St. Joseph High School, Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School and Regional Arts Centre, Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School, and most recently — George Brown College. FPP also hosts Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) workshops for students of all grades. Under these workshops, students get to learn essential business and entrepreneurial skills from renowned professionals.

Recognition

The troupe has been subject of numerous talk shows, specials and documentaries. A 1984

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...

movie-of-the-week entitled ''Special People'' was based on the company's early history. FPP then went on to perform at the Royal Alexandra Theatre (1990) to rave reviews, which earned them Ed Mirvish's praise and friendship. ''A Little Like Magic'', which detailed the company's operation and success, was an

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

-winning documentary that hosted

Ann-Margret Ann-Margret Olsson (born 28 April 1941), credited as Ann-Margret, is a Swedish-American actress and singer with a career spanning seven decades. Her many screen roles include '' Pocketful of Miracles'' (1961), ''State Fair'' (1962), '' Bye Bye B ...

. The company was also featured in the plot of an episode of the popular U.S. television drama '' 7th Heaven'' in 2002. TV Special called "Blacklight Dreams" was aired on Bravo! CBC in 2004. In co-production with Treehouse's "Roll Play", Famous PEOPLE Players' children series became hugely popular. They also appeared in the Rick Mercer's documentary on CBC in 2013. Currently, Famous PEOPLE Players is #1 of 125 Theatre & Concerts in Toronto. On June 1st 2024, FPP hosted its 50th Anniversary Gala to huge success — blessed with the presence of distinguished guests such as Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and the Honourable Bob Rae, Canadian Ambassador to United Nations. This also included: the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Michael Tibollo, Ontario Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and Chia-yi Chua, the Honourary Consul-General of the Republic of Singapore. One of the significant aftermaths of the gala was a resultant partnership with the National University of Singapore (NUS). Under the NUS Overseas College (NOC) program, a student was brought to FPP to undergo a year-long internship. The gala featured a live auction led by Jay Mandarino, and including works donated by leading Canadian contemporary artists Greg Hardy, Stephen Appleby-Barr, Derek Besant, Alexandra Haeseker, Michael Smith, and Lorraine Simms. On September 22nd 2024, FPP hosted another successful fundraiser in light of its 50th anniversary — an Italian Gala featuring the chefs of ''Amanti Della Cucina''. This event was also generously sponsored and supported by ''Pristine Fine Foods and Printing'', ''I&A Professional Corporation, Bianchi Presta LLP Active, Green+Ross IC Savings, Pizzeria Via Napoli, PEEL, TK Fresh Produce, Schmidt Mediation Group, Cheese Boutique, Pizza Nova''.

President and Founder

Renowned as the President and Founder of Famous PEOPLE Players, Diane Dupuy C.M. O.Ont is also a renowned motivational speaker. Most notably, she was invited by Deepak Chopra to be a guest speaker at the Alliance of New Humanity in Puerto Rico, where she spoke alongside former US Vice President Al Gore in 2008. She is also an author of 7 books and counting, all available at FPP. In light of her outstanding contributions to the social fabric of Canada, here are her notable awards: * Woman of the Year (1981) - B'nai B'rith Women *

Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

(1982) * Ernest C. Manning Award for Merit (1984) * First Canadian recipient of Library Congress Award (1988) * Ernest & Young Social Entrepreneur Award (2009) * Queens Jubilee Medal of Honour (2012) * Named Global Television Local Hero (2013) * Lifetime Achievement Award (2024) - Brilliant Minded Women * First Canada Frontrunner (2025) - Urban Economy Forum * King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025) * Order of Ontario (2025) She has also received Honourary Degrees from the following universities: University of Windsor (1986), University of Trent (1988), University of Calgary (1991), University of Toronto (2001), University of Brock (2001). In tribute to her efforts in fostering social inclusion in Canada, the Maple Leaf Theatre Company produced a new, original musical based on the story of Diane's life and founding of Famous PEOPLE Players — called ''Changing The Label''. It was written by Canadian historian and playwright, Gord Carruth, with music written in conjunction with Amy King, and directed by Willard Boudreau. It premiered on June 19th 2025 at the Dine & Dream Theatre. Her mother, Mary Gioberti Thornton, has also won many accolades, like The Toastmasters as woman of the year and Queens Jubilee Medal.

Productions

Famous PEOPLE Players has created many productions over its 50-year history. ''Leave the Porch Light On'' was the company's first original, full-length musical production on the story of Famous PEOPLE Players and was created for the company's 25th-anniversary. The initial performance of ''Leave the Porchlight On'' was attended by a number of celebrities and other well-known people, including the

Governor General of Canada The governor general of Canada () is the federal representative of the . The monarch of Canada is also sovereign and head of state of 14 other Commonwealth realms and resides in the United Kingdom. The monarch, on the Advice (constitutional la ...

. The production was very successful and is still occasionally performed at the company's theatre in Toronto and on tour. A sequel of sorts followed two years later, entitled ''Hide and Seek: A Game of Human Spirit'' and ''A.D.H.D.(Awesome Dreams with High Drama) The Musical.'' tour. A sequel of sorts followed two years later, entitled ''Hide and Seek: A Game of Human Spirit'' and ''A.D.H.D.(Awesome Dreams with High Drama) The Musical.'' tour. A sequel of sorts followed two years later, entitled ''Hide and Seek: A Game of Human Spirit'' and ''A.D.H.D.(Awesome Dreams with High Drama) The Musical.''

References

External links

Famous People Players
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References

External links

Famous People Players
Theatre companies in Toronto Disability theatre Puppet theaters Puppet troupes Puppetry in Canada